2025 marked the 25th anniversary of director Mary Harron’s Bret Easton Ellis adaptation American Psycho (watch it HERE), which has come to be known as a cult classic – and while fans were celebrating the anniversary, director Luca Guadagnino, whose credits include Challengers, Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All, Queer, and the Suspiria remake, has been gearing up to take the helm of an American Psycho remake.
Guadagnino reportedly signed on to direct the film from a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns (Contagion) back in October of 2024, and in December of that year we heard that Austin Butler (Elvis) and Jacob Elordi (Saltburn) were being considered for the lead role of Patrick Bateman, the character who was played by Christian Bale in Harron’s film. Patrick Schwarzenegger (The White Lotus) was also said to be “very much on the radar” for the film’s producers… but it’s been a while since we heard anything new about the project.
According to Ellis himself, it may be because no one wants to dare to follow in Christian Bale’s footsteps, so the script has been reworked to be “a completely different take” on the concept.
Reminder
Harron’s American Psycho had the following synopsis: Patrick Bateman is a young, handsome, Harvard educated Wall Street success, seemingly perfect with his stunning fiancé and entourage of high-powered friends. But his circle of friends doesn’t know the other Patrick Bateman, the one who lusts for more than status and material things. With a detective hot on his trail and temptation everywhere, Patrick Bateman can’t fight his terrible urges that take him on the pursuit of women, greed and the ultimate crime – murder! Based on the controversial book by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is a sexy thriller that sets forth a vision that is both terrifying and chilling. Harron wrote the screenplay with Guinevere Turner.
A-Listers Intimidated?
While speaking about the remake on his podcast, Ellis said (with thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting for the transcription), “A couple of high-profile actors, whom I can’t name, have turned it down. I think maybe because they don’t want to be in the shoes of Christian Bale.“
He went on to say that Scott Z. Burns has turned in a new draft of the script since those A-lister rejections. “From what I’m told, this movie is completely different from Mary Harron’s 2000 movie. It’s a completely different take, and going to bear no resemblance to that movie.“
In that case, maybe there’s now a better chance that an actor might see a way to put his own stamp on the Patrick Bateman character.
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